Tube Snake Boogie (Live 2016)

"Tube Snake Boogie," a classic by ZZ Top, has always been a crowd-pleaser, and the 2016 live version captures the band’s raw energy perfectly for the Zoo Freaks tuning in. One juicy bit of trivia comes from the song’s origins on the 1981 album El Loco. The band claimed in their 1992 Greatest Hits liner notes that “tube snake” is slang for a surfboard or boogie board, suggesting a wholesome vibe. But let’s be real—fans and critics alike, as seen in discussions on Songfacts, suspect a cheeky double entendre, given lyrics about “boogie-woogie all night long” and ZZ Top’s knack for sly innuendo. Billy Gibbons himself once hinted at this duality, noting a friend loved the term “tube snake” for “obvious reasons,” tying it to the less innocent “tube steak.”

Another cool story comes from drummer Frank Beard, who credited the song’s iconic intro to Sandy Nelson’s “Teen Beat,” blending surf and jungle vibes, as he shared in a 2022 piece by The Rockpit. The late Dusty Hill called it the ultimate “party song,” and the 2016 performance likely had audiences losing it, just like at their Gruene Hall session for the RAW album, where they stripped things down to their roots. Posts on X from fans back in 2015 also highlight the song’s staying power, with some sharing pics of the original “Tube Snake Boogie”/“La Grange” EP, proving it’s a staple for diehards.

As for how ZZ Top got started, the trio—Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, and Frank Beard—formed in Houston, Texas, in 1969, rooted in gritty blues and rock. Gibbons, fresh off his psychedelic band Moving Sidewalks, linked up with Hill and Beard, who brought a tight rhythm section from local outfits like American Blues. Their early days were all about grinding it out in dive bars, channeling influences like Muddy Waters and B.B. King into a raw, boogie-driven sound. By 1970, they were gigging relentlessly, and their debut, ZZ Top’s First Album, dropped in 1971, cementing their rep as Texas road dogs with a flair for storytelling and riffs.

The band’s legend grew through their mix of humor, style, and swagger—think matching beards, shades, and hot rods. Their official channels keep the vibe alive: check them out at zztop.com, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Fans also flock to spots like the ZZ Top Fan Club on Facebook, where Zoo Freaks would fit right in, swapping stories and setlists. Another gem is zztopfanclub.com, a hub for devotees with tour updates and merch. Whether it’s the song’s sneaky lyrics or the band’s epic journey, ZZ Top delivers the goods for a wild night at THE ZOO.